Monday, September 18, 2023
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2
Keeping Secrets
Sometimes secrets are fun. For example, it’s fun to plan secret surprises for people we love, or to know someone is going to have a baby and they haven’t told anyone else yet. But there are secrets that we may find ourselves in the middle of that are not fun.
Four words stand out from the verses above: secret, shameful, deception, and distort. Look at the original Greek meaning for these words:
Kryptos: Hidden or Secret – Concealed, private, inward
Aischyne: Shameful, disgraceful
Panourgoa: Deception, crafty, cunning, false wisdom
Doloo: Distortion, corrupt, ensnare, handle deceitfully
When there is something or someone in our life that we feel we need to keep secret, we become prisoners held captive by our secret. We are held captive by shame and fear, trading in our freedom. Sin makes us believe we are free but actually its chains of bondage are wrapped tight around us before we even know what has happened. It keeps us there, locked up tight, secretly in shame.
Freedom comes when we realize that God sees our heart and we cannot hide it from Him, even though we are hiding it from the rest of the world. Nothing is hidden from Him. All is laid bare in His sight. He still loves us, pursues us, and values us in spite of our deepest, darkest secrets.
Distortion:
Part of the verse above was in reference to false teaching by some of the teachers in Corinth. Paul was talking to the believers in Corinth about how he did not distort the Word of God but some of the false teachers there had. People tend to interpret the Word of God to fit their needs and desires, the most common being distorted to condone a behavior that it actually doesn’t. We may read what we want to see and try to build a case to others. We can distort the Bible to condemn others’ behaviors that it really doesn’t condemn at all. We need to carefully and responsibly discern the words of the Holy Spirit and know what the Bible says so we can see it when distortion is used.
The good news is that we can be free from our secrets. We can be free from the prison of shame. No matter what you are hiding, or what you are struggling with, Jesus still waits for you with open arms. You won’t be turned away.
Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5
